The age of enlightenment

2. THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT THE ENLIGHTENMENT - The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emerged in the 18 th century, especially, in England and France.

- It was based on three pillars: 1. Reason - A tool to guide all knowledge, leading the understanding of the universe through science.

2. Critical thinking - A process to call into question anything not wellreasoned.

3.Progress - The idea that knowledge can transform society and improves human condition.

2. THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES - The Enlightenment was the consequence of new ways of thinking introduced by the 17th century intellectuals Descartes and Locke.

- They supported rationalism and empiricism, taht is to say, the use of reason and experimentation.

- This was the basis of the scientific method of inquiry.

2. THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT - In the 18 th century there were great scientific advances: 1. Physics - Newton made major contributions to mechanical and gravitational physics.

2. Biology - Linnaeus created the first system of classification of living things.

3. Astronomy Herschel who discovered the planet Uranus.

4. Chemistry - Lavoisier described the law of conservation of mass.

5. Medicine - Jenner developed the first vaccine against smallpox.

6. Exploration - Cook explored and mapped much of the South Pacific islands.

2. THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT ENLIHTENMENT THINKERS - THE Enlightenment ideas were spread by a group pf thinkers.

- They opposed to the ancient regime(the absolute monarchy, the estate system, and argument from authority).

- They contributed to the creation of a new model of political and social organisation based on freedom and equality.

2. THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT MONTESQUIEU - He supported political ideas such as the separation of powers, dividing the state into branches or institutions.. Not all the power was held by the king.

- His politicql treatise The Spirit of the Laws.

VOLTAIRE -He believed in a natural religion and the existence of a Supreme Being but rejected churches and superstition.

- He supported a monarchy limited by a parliament.

- His text was Candide.

ROUSSEAU - He was in favour of democratic ideas such as popular sovereignty.

- He propsed new , more advanced views on education, without include women.

- His most important works The Social Contract and Emile.

2. THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT -

THE ENCYCLOPÉDIE It was a compilation of all the knowledge of their time, explained scientifically and based on reason.

It was published in 28 volumes.

Its main editors were Diderot and D’Alembert, but it included contributions from many other Enlightenment thinkers.

It was the most influential work of Enlightenment.

It was rejected by the traditional intellectual, religious and political establishment